Ireland's overseas tourist numbers hit highest level since 2008

 The number of overseas tourists to the island nation between January and October was almost nine percent higher than in the same period last year, official data showed on Wednesday.
The 10-month data is the highest since 2008 and overseas visitor numbers are on course to exceed 7 million for the year as a whole, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO data showed that between August and October the total number of trips to Ireland increased by 6.7 percent to 2,284,700, an overall increase of 144,000 compared to the same period twelve months earlier.
Trips by residents of North America to Ireland increased by 20.9 percent to 439,900 while trips by residents of Great Britain increased by 2.2 percent to 920,500.
Trips by residents of European countries other than Great Britain increased by 7.1 percent to 787,100.
The number of overseas visits to Ireland grew strongly in recent years. The CSO data indicated that overseas visitors to Ireland grew by 7.2 percent in 2013 when compared to 2012. The Great Britain market performed well and grew by 5.6 percent. North America and Australia and developing markets had their best years ever and mainland Europe also played a major part in growing visitor numbers from overseas.